Up Close with a Crocodile

By Val
@valmnz (17099)
New Zealand
May 22, 2018 4:49pm CST
One of my wishes for my Australian holiday was to get up close to a crocodile. That wish occurred during my short stay in Darwin at the top of the country. I visited Crocosaurus Cove, right in the heart of the town, where you could get up close with captive salt water crocodiles and other interesting reptiles. But it was the crocodiles that fascinated me. And I was lucky enough to arrive at feeding time. They showed us a mechanical demonstration of the strength of a crocodile's bite. You wouldn't want to get in the way of the real thing. I took a lot of photos, but this one was my favourite. Fortunately there was a huge thick glass-like wall between us and the enclosure.
24 people like this
23 responses
@Kandae11 (53679)
22 May 18
In a horror or suspense movie - the crocodile smashes the glass and chases you.
6 people like this
• United States
22 May 18
It would catch me cause i can't run very fast
2 people like this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
22 May 18
Believe me, I didn't lean against that protection! It wasn't glass, it was rather thick perspex or whatever it's called.
2 people like this
@Kandae11 (53679)
22 May 18
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57888)
• Centralia, Washington
23 May 18
He's a handsome fella. When we visited New Orleans, hubby and I went on a swamp tour. The guide held out hunks of hot dog and crocodiles jumped up high to get those hot dogs.
2 people like this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
That would be a bit too close for me!
2 people like this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
@sallypup even on our Gorge trip up a river we were told to do that, even though we didn't have any crocodile sightings.
@sallypup (57888)
• Centralia, Washington
23 May 18
@valmnz The tour guide held the chunk of hot dog out on a stick. He also told us to keep our hands in the boat. NO messing around. Hands in boat.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
25 May 18
Hope I never meet a crocodile face to face.Recently I watched a movie where crocodile attacks people killing them.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
25 May 18
They are very vicious creatures.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
28 May 18
@valmnz Yes,also while sharks are in the water crocodiles walk on land too.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
28 May 18
@silvermist the crocs can move very quickly
1 person likes this
@just4him (306237)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 May 18
I'm glad there was a glass wall between you and that crocodile. Great picture.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
26 May 18
I wouldn't have been there otherwise
1 person likes this
@just4him (306237)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
26 May 18
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
23 May 18
He looks dangerous even if he is behind glass. I wouldn't want to get too close.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
I was totally in awe of the beast. Magnificent fellow!
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
24 May 18
@RubyHawk and bite off arms and legs. Their bite is really powerful.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
24 May 18
@valmnz They are and dangerous. I've read they can bite a mans body in half with one bite.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
23 May 18
@valmnz How close were to you one? Weren't you scared at all?
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
Behind a thick perspex wall
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
24 May 18
@Hannihar when they were feeding them one keeper held a pole in readiness
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
24 May 18
@valmnz I figured they would not let you get up close to one without some kind of protection.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
23 May 18
I really thought it was an unplanned encounter (lol)
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
Oh no, I'm not that brave I deliberately went to a tourist attraction. That was good enough for me.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
23 May 18
@valmnz Neither would I
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
23 May 18
I even looked at the picture on the screen and felt very horrible
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
I thought he was rather awesome!
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
22 May 18
that is a good shot there.Good photo
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
22 May 18
Thanks. It's probably the most impressive of the ones I took of the crocs.
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
22 May 18
@valmnz you did a good job there Val
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95189)
• Marion, Ohio
23 May 18
With the wall maybe. But those tails are very strong too so not sure about a glass one. Glad you got to go
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
It wasn't glass, it was perspex - especially developed.
@wolfgirl569 (95189)
• Marion, Ohio
23 May 18
@valmnz Thats good
1 person likes this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
23 May 18
oh yes, I saw how strong they were when we went to my daughter's field trip before in a crocodile farm,
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
Very scarey!
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
22 May 18
So there aren't any in New Zealand?
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
22 May 18
Good heavens no. We're a land of birds and insects, sharks and whales, Our most famous reptile is a tuatara, a big ancient lizard. The most dangerous native critter we have is a rare little spider.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
23 May 18
@valmnz That's good to know.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
22 May 18
I have heard scary tales of those salt water crocs.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
Oh yes! Those Australian ones have quite a reputation.
@JudyEv (325793)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
I liked the bit about the thick glass!! They do have a certain fascination about them don't they? Like the huge bulls you see, their size makes me think they can't be fast or agile but they are surprisingly so.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
23 May 18
This one was definitely huge.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
24 May 18
yes its a great photo... I'm glad you got to see some..
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12597)
• Ireland
22 May 18
@valmnz Not ideal house pets.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
22 May 18
I was offered the chance to hold a baby one but I said no thank you!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 18
Eek I wouldn't want to get that close to a crocodile but it must have been interesting to see close up. How close would you have gotten if there was no thick glass wall?
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
22 May 18
Ha, ha, no where near photographing distance!
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
22 May 18
Great picture. I'm glad you had that thick glass wall between the two of you.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
22 May 18
Believe me, so was I.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
22 May 18
Keep away from that bad boy!
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
22 May 18
You bet I did!
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
22 May 18
Very scary looking. I wouldn't want to get too close to one.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
22 May 18
I was definitely close enough!
1 person likes this